CLINCIAL/COUNSELING
The behavioral and social/emotional goal at Washington Academy is to help each student develop alternate strategies for coping with frustration, conflict, anxiety and anger. We have a social worker assigned to each level: elementary, middle and high school.
All the social workers help students to examine misbehaviors and assist them in developing more productive alternates for dealing with stresses. Each classroom has an assigned social worker who serves as a case manager and meets regularly with students and teachers. Our social workers provide individual and group counseling as a forum for problem solving. Crisis counseling is provided by the social workers for students needing immediate assistance.
CHARACTER EDUCATION
As part of the regular weekly academic schedule, classes are held in each room to address the development of social skills and reinforce social and emotional learning. Nationally recognized character education programs have been used with students to help them develop appropriate social skills.
Students will be presented with different types of materials and scenarios to analyze and discuss. The social workers lead most of these sessions to foster collaboration and also dialogue among students on the varying topics.
SOCIAL SKILLS
Throughout the regular school year (Sept – June), teachers and social workers provide opportunities during the regular weekly academic schedule for social skills building. Students work on conflict resolution, anger management, coping with anxiety and also collaborating with fellow students.
There are opportunities for our high school students to become mentors to our younger students in order to foster more social skills building.
During our Extended School Year (ESY), half of Washington Academy’s focus is on social skills building. For more information: http://www.washingtonacademy.net/academic-services/extended-school-year